Sometimes when i step on the brake i see a light start to go on on the left side of the dashboard in the lower bottom area. It never really goes on but kind of blinks on and goes off whenever i step on the brake. I was wondering if anyone knows what this is and what it means?

Andrew
1999 S70 GLT
113,000 miles

I was wondering, if the brake pads are worn, would more fluid be pushed out of reservoir and cause the low fluid level light to flash when you step on brake the pedal?

Owners manual shows the following warning lights in that area:

3 Cruse control
4 Low washer fluid level


If the lamp glows continuously when the engine is running, there is only about 1/2 - 1 US qt. remaining in the washer fluid reservoir.

5 Low fuel level

When the lamp glows, only about 1.8 US gals. (8 liters) of fuel remain. If the ignition is switched on while refueling, the gauge may read inaccurately for up to 45 minutes.

6 Rear fog light
7 High beams
8 Trunk/tailgate open
9 Bulb failure warning sensor
10 (Not in use)
11 Electronic Throttle System(ETS)
12 SRS

AND I VOTE FOR #4.

Klaus

Hi Klaus,

==Thank you for your reply
== Well the light i see is only when i press the brake.

=but currently the gas tank is 1/2 full
==the coolant level is in the middle of the max and min level
= the brake fluid is full. The pads are at 1/2.

Since the light doesnt stay on i dont know what it is. Hard to know what it is when the panel is all dark.

Andrew
1999 S70 GLT
113,000 miles

Owners manual shows the following warning lights in that area:

3 Cruse control
4 Low washer fluid level




If the lamp glows continuously when the engine is running, there is only about 1/2 - 1 US qt. remaining in the washer fluid reservoir.

5 Low fuel level

When the lamp glows, only about 1.8 US gals. (8 liters) of fuel remain. If the ignition is switched on while refueling, the gauge may read inaccurately for up to 45 minutes.

6 Rear fog light
7 High beams
8 Trunk/tailgate open
9 Bulb failure warning sensor
10 (Not in use)
11 Electronic Throttle System(ETS)
12 SRS

AND I VOTE FOR #4.

When you hit the brakes, the fluid sloshes to one side and the light starts to come on?????????????

Klaus

Please, READ the title!!!

aha, Thank you.
I checked the fluid it was not empty but i filled it just to make sure. Geez, is this car that smart to know that the washer fluid is low?

As i drive around i noticed that the light still comes on for a 1/2 second and then goes off. It will do this if there is a hill or no hill, dry or raining, hot or cold. It will occur on the flats or hills. But the strange thing is that it doesnt do it all the time when i brake. I would say only about 30 to 40% of the time. It started to do this about 6 or 9 months ago.

But i have to say that you gave me an idea. I posted here earlier about putting in rear pads. The front ones are still on there. I think there is about 4-5 mm or so of pad remaining so its getting low. Is there a light for a low brake pad?

Andrew

I suggest you find out which one of the lights goes on. The lights are explained in the owner's manual. And your brakes are not wired, so a thin pad will not trigger a light.

Klaus

Hi Klaus,
Thanks for the good idea. I will try to find what light has been going on for a short time.

Andrew

Well that is a really good thought but the brake fluid is almost all the way up to the top!

So that is why this problem really has me wondering.
But so far you sure have some good ideas in narrowing the problem.

Andrew

Check the brake fluid level, it may be getting low.

Klaus

Hi Klaus,
Hmm i didnt think about that but i see that its FULL!
Andrew
1999 S70 GLT
113,000 miles

Hi Klaus,
Ok, i read the owners manual and figured out that the, Bulb failure warning sensor is the one that is going on for a fraction of a second and going off again, only when the brakes are being applied. The weird thing is that this doesnt happen all the time.

Andrew

Buy a new pair of bulbs for the brake lights at any autoparts store. Clean the bulb holders with a wire brush until they shine. Put a thin coat of bulb grease on the metal side of the bulb and insert the new bulbs.

The reason your warning light is coming on is because of the corrosion in the bulb holder which is marginal.

Klaus

Hi Klaus,
Your genius. I was wondering what this problem was for quite sometime. Many thanks for your help.

I presume the bulb holders can be taken out? I have never taken them out before.
In fact i have never done much car work until i got here on this website.

Andrew

Very simple to do. Plastic tabs hold the bulb holders, so just push and pull.

If you fold the seat forward, with the holders on both sides out but connected, it makes it easy to see which lights are giving you problems when you step on the brake.

Just replace the bulb on both sides of the car.

While there, I would dust off the other bulbs with a soft cloth.

Klaus

Hi Klaus,
Youre really good. You were right!
I sanded the bulb holders but there was really only 2 that needed it. There was a slightly burned area at the contact points where the bulb meets up with the metal holders. I put dielectric grease on the contact points as you suggested. I drove around for about 1 hr and am satisfied that the light no longer goes on to warn of a possible bulb failure. You were right!

Thank you.
Andrew
1999 S70 GLT
114,000 miles